Axios: Trump and NYC Mayor Mamdani Have Been Texting Regularly

A new Axios report has revealed an unexpected back channel between Donald Trump and Zohran Mamdani, with the two leaders exchanging text messages on a regular basis in recent weeks, according to people familiar with their conversations.

The report offers a new look at a relationship that has intrigued observers since Mamdani’s election, showing that their connection extends beyond a single friendly appearance in public.

According to Axios, the texting began shortly after Trump and Mamdani exchanged phone numbers during a November meeting in the Oval Office. Two sources said the messages have continued since then, indicating an ongoing line of communication despite the sharp ideological divide between the president and the newly elected mayor.

That divide had been on full display in the months before the meeting. Trump repeatedly warned New Yorkers that electing Mamdani would damage the city, while Mamdani openly accused Trump of fascism during the campaign. Against that backdrop, many expected their Oval Office encounter to be tense or confrontational.

Instead, the meeting unfolded in a strikingly different fashion. Trump greeted Mamdani warmly and offered personal praise as cameras rolled. “Wow, you are even better-looking in person than you are on TV,” the president said when Mamdani entered the room.

Mamdani also appeared intent on striking a personal chord. During the conversation, he spoke with Trump about New York City neighborhoods and referenced a local pharmacy associated with the president’s family, a moment aides later described as helping set an easy tone.

Axios reports that the content of the text exchanges remains unclear, as does how frequently the two leaders communicate. They noted that Mamdani has clear reasons to maintain a functional relationship with the White House, including Trump’s past threats to withhold federal funds from New York City or deploy National Guard forces.

Trump, for his part, appeared to welcome the dynamic. Axios reported that the president enjoyed Mamdani’s political visibility and his emphasis on affordability, an issue that has posed challenges for Trump in public opinion surveys.

The dynamic has not remained friction-free. Earlier this month, Mamdani publicly criticized the U.S. military strike on Venezuela and the capture of Nicolás Maduro, calling the operation “an act of war and a violation of federal and international law.” Mamdani later acknowledged that he personally called Trump to convey his objections.

Trump responded publicly in an interview with the New York Times, expressing surprise at the speed of the criticism. “I thought it was awfully quick for him to be criticizing,” he said. “We’ve had numerous conversations. We get along great. I thought he’d wait at least a month.” Trump added that while he “did” have a good relationship with Mamdani, “he hit me sooner than I thought.”

Mamdani has minimized the impact of the disagreement. “The president and I have always been honest and direct with each other about places of disagreement,” he said, adding that his responsibility is to speak plainly while delivering for New Yorkers.

Spokespeople for both leaders declined to comment on the Axios report.